Shipper package

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a shipper package comprising a pair of end caps adapted to receive and support opposite ends of an article such as a bathtub, and a wrapper extending around the article and the end caps. The end caps are made from a blank of corrugated paperboard and the like which is cut and scored to permit storage in a flat condition and is foldable to provide adequate structural strength when erected.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,845,859 Dornbush 5] Nov. 5, 1974 I SHIPPER PACKAGE 3,680,688 8/1972 Smith 206 46 H Inventor: Ross J. Dorn'bush, E. Grand R25,605 6/1964 Stuckert 206/46 FN Blane Rd, Grand Blanc Mich FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 48439 1,336,309 7/l963 France 229/14 C [22] Wed: July 1972 Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer [21] Appl. No.: 272,359 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Earl B. Brookbank, Jr.

52 us. c1. 206/320, 229/23 R [57] ABST.RACT 51] 1m. (:1 B65d 85/54, B65d 5/32 The F mvemlon relates to a PP Package [58] Field 61 Search 206/46 H 46 FN, 320; Comprising a P of end Caps adapted to receive and 229/14 C 23 R support opposite ends of an article such as a bathtub, and a wrapper extending around the article and the [56] References Cited end caps. The end caps are made from a blank of corrugated paperboard and the like which is cut and UNITED STATES PATENTS scored to permit storage in a flat condition and is fold- 33323; 24:32; 2:11 332 4125 able to provide adequate structural strength when 3:487:9l4 2/1969 Weaver eta l::::::::::::....:::: 206 46 H erected 3,661,318 5/1972 Miller et a1. 229/23 BT 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures SHIPPER PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to a shipper package for shipping articles such as bathtubs and which require support means and impact resisting means in order to avoid damage to the article during storage, handling, and/or shipment.

Heretofore, packages or containers made from wood or corrugated fiberboard have been employed to ship articles such as bathtubs and the like. However, such known devices are subject to numerous deficiencies includinng manufacturing expense and time-consuming assembly procedure. A more serious problem has been encountered from the failure of such known devices to provide adequate support and/r protection for the article to be shipped with the result that the article is frequently damaged. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide means overcoming such difficulties and deficiencies.

SUMMARY In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved by the provision of a shipper package comprising an end cap formed from a blank of paperboard and the like andadapted to cushion and support in suspended relation an article such as a bathtub and to space all portions thereof from a'wrapper which extends around the article and is connected to the end cap.

DESCRIPTION Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the assembled package;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank of the type used to form an end cap as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an end cap assembled from the blank of FIG. 5; and

'FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, a shipper package in accordance with the invention is indicated generally at 10. The package comprises a pair of end caps indicated generally at 11 and a wrapper indicated generally at 12. The completed package is substantially rectangular in shape so that several of such packages may be stacked one upon another or side by side in uniform rows. Additionally, the provision of a pair of end caps in accordance with the invention that are encompassed by and connected to a wrapper greatly facilitates problems of storage and shipping without the need to provide a carton that is sufficiently large to contain an entire bathtub. FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which the present invention is used to package a bathtub such as that generally indicated by reference number 16. The tub is of the well known type which has a front facing or skirt 16 and upper edge portions 17. The transverse edge portions have a lip 18 extending upwardly from the upper edge thereof and the longitudinal edge portion has a similar lip 19 extending upwardly from the upper longitudinal edge thereof.

After the end caps have been positioned the wrapper member 12 extends around the portions of the tub between the two ends and is formed into a sleeve by a lap joint and is retained in this sleeve configuration by means of adhesive or by staples supplied along the lap joint. The wrapper 12 is also stapled or otherwise adhesively secured to each of the end caps 11 to form an integral shipper package with the bathtub or the like disposed therein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the wrapper is formed from a blank of paperboard and the like that is cut and scored to define interconnected rear panel 20, top panel 21, front panel 22, and bottom panel 23. Hingedly connected to rear panel 20 and bottom panel 23 are auxiliary panels 20a and 23a which overlap and are connected together by staples or an adhesive when the wrapper is erected to form a sleeve as is best shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, flaps 20b, 21b, 22b, and 23b may be hingedly connected to each of the respective panels for folding inwardly and are adapted to be secured to the end caps 11 as is best seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a blank of paperboard and the like,-

indicated generally at 24, from which the end caps are made. The blank includes an end panel portion 25 to which edge walls 26, 27, 28 are hingedly connected along fold lines 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33. For reasons that will appear presently, the reinforcing walls 26, 27, 28 are partially separated from one another by cut lines 34, 35.

As shown in FIG. 5, the blank 24 may also include reinforcing edge walls 36, 37, 38 foldably connected to panel 25 along fold lines 39, 40, 41 and these three reinforcing panels are similarly separated from one another partially by cut lines 42, 43.

A support wall 50 and a hinge panel 45 are foldably interconnected to panel 25 along fold lines 47, 48. A second support wall 59 and hinge panel 46 may be similarly connected to panel 25 along fold lines 47', 49.

Spacer panels 51, 52 are foldably interconnected to support wall 50 along fold lines 53, 54, and a flap portion 52a is separated from support wall 50 and from spacer panel 51 by a cut line 55. Reinforcing wall portions 56, 57, 58 are interconnected to wall 50 along fold lines 56a, 57a, 58a.

Spacer panels 60, 61 are interconnected to wall 59 along fold lines 60a, 61a and spacer panel 61 is separated from reinforcing panel 58 by a cut line 62. Reinforcing panels 63, 64, 65 are foldably interconnected to wall 59 along fold lines 66, 67, 68, and panels 64, and 65 are partially separated from one another along cut lines 69, 70. If desired, openings 71 may be provided in panel 25 to provide hand holds whereby lifting of the assembled package may be facilitated.

The wrapper blanks and end blanks 24 can be stored and/or shipped in a flat condition until they are needed for use. At such time, the end blanks are erected to form an assembled end as shown in FIG. 6.

- Assembly of an end from blank 24 is accomplished by folding upper edge panel'28 downwardly along fold lines 32, 33 until it is superimposed on edge wall 27.

The upper edge of edge wall 28 is notched at 28a to provide an intermediate projecting portions 28b which are then inserted into cut line 34. The superimposed panels 27, 28 are then folded along fold lines 30, 31 to form a composite reinforced upper edge wall 72 that is hingedly connected to panel 25 along fold line 29. Reinforcing edges 36, 37, 38 are similarly folded and assembled to form a composite reinforced edge wall 73 that is foldably connected to panel 25 along fold line. 39. Reinforcing wall 58 is folded upwardly along fold line 58a and then downwardly until it is superimposed upon reinforcing wall 57. Wall 57 is then similarly folded upwardly along line 57a and then downwardly along fold line 56a until walls 57 and 58 are superimposed upon wall 50. The spacer wall 52 is then folded upwardly along fold line 53 and spacer 51 is similarly folded upwardly along line 54 until spacer wall 52 is ultimately inverted and superimposed upon the then superimposed walls 50, 57, and 58.

The superimposed support and reinforcing walls together with superimposed spacer walls 51, 52 are then folded upwardly and then downwardly along fold lines 47, 48 until they are superimposed upon panel 25 as shown in H0. 6. When so positioned, spacer panel 52 is interposed between support wall 50 and the reinforcing walls 57, 58 and panel 25. Spacer wall 52 is then secured to panel 25 by any convenient securing means such as staples or by an adhesive.

Similarly, reinforcing walls 63, 64, 65 are folded upwardly and then downwardly until they are respectively superimposed upon one another and they are then folded along fold line 66 until the reinforcing walls are superimposed on support wall 59. Spacer walls 60, 61 are then similarly folded upwardly and then downwardly along fold lines 600, 61a until wall 61 is superimposed upon wall 59 and its reinforcing walls 63, 64, 65. This then folded subassembly is then folded upwardly and then downwardly along fold lines 47, 49 until it is superimposed on panel 25 with spacer wall 61 interposed between the panel and the reinforcing walls 59, 63, 64, 65, at which time wall 61 is then similarly secured to panel 25.

It is to be understood that the blank for the opposite end of the shipper package is assembled in a similar manner and from a blank that is identical to blank 24 except that it is a mirror image thereof so as to provide a right hand and a left hand end. Accordingly, description of the other blank will not be made in detail.

in the packaging of a bathtub in accordance with the present invention. the upper edge portion 17 of one end of the tub is placed on and supported by the upper surfaces of support walls 50, 59 and their reinforcing walls. The composite and reinforced upper edge 72 is then folded downwardly along fold line 29 thus gripping the edge of the tub 17 between it and the upper supporting surfaces of support walls 50, 59. Similarly, the skirt 16 of the tub is gripped between the front edge of reinforced support wall 59 and the superimposed composite edge walls 73. The upstanding lip 19 is received in the space provided between the left hand end of foldable upper edge 72 and the left hand edge of panel 25. As is best shown in FIG. 6, the tub is suspended above the bottom of panel 25 and is spaced apart from the top and sides of the end by the reinforced members 72, 73 cooperating with the supporting surfaces of support walls 50, 59. Additionally, the ends of the tub are spaced apart from end panel 25 by spacer panels 52, 52a and 61.

Paperboard and the like is somewhat crushable or compressable. Additionally, the reinforced vertical walls 50, 59 adequately reinforce the end panel 25 and provide stacking strength sufficient to support the tub in suspended relation and to permit stacking of assembled shipper packages one upon the other. The compressability of reinforced edge portion, 72, 73 enables the edges of the tub to be firmly gripped between the supporting surfaces and spaced apart from exterior portions of the package so that the tub at all times remains suspended and spaced apart from exterior surfaces of the assembled package.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a shipper package embodying the present invention is inexpensive to manufacture and may be assembled with ease.

While the particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the invention, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a package for protecting and supporting a bath tub which package has right and left end caps and a sleeve-type wrapper, the improvement wherein said end caps are each formed from a one-piece blank and each have A. an end panel (25);

B. a re-inforced upper edge walls (72) extending at to panel (25) formed from a plurality of hinged panels folded to provide a multi-ply wall and adapted to overly the front top surface of a tub and function as a cushion layer to protect the vitreous enamel thereof;

C. re-inforced front edge walls (73) extending at 90 from panel (25') formed from a plurality of hinged panels folded to provide a multi-ply wall and adapted to overly the front skirt (16) of a tub and function to space front panel (22) of wrapper (12) from contact with the vitreous enamel on said front skirt;

D. re-inforced end support walls'(50 and 59) connected to panel (25) by hinge panels (45 and 46) overlying end spacers (52 and 61) adjacent the rear and front respectively, of said end panel (25) and spaced from said upper edge wall to provide supports for suspending a tub (15); i

E. said end spacers (52 and 61) being hinged at lateral edges of said support walls (50 and 59) and folded between said end panel (25) and said support walls;

F. said right end cap being a mirror image of said left end cap. 

1. In a package for protecting and supporting a bath tub which package has right and left end caps and a sleeve-type wrapper, the improvement wherein said end caps are each formed from a onepiece blank and each have A. an end panel (25); B. a re-inforced upper edge walls (72) extending at 90* to panel (25) formed from a plurality of hinged panels folded to provide a multi-ply wall and adapted to overly the front top surface of a tub and function as a cushion layer to protect the vitreous enamel thereof; C. re-inforced front edge walls (73) extending at 90* from panel (25) formed from a plurality of hinged panels folded to provide a multi-ply wall and adapted to overly the front skirt (16) of a tub and function to space front panel (22) of wrapper (12) from contact with the vitreous enamel on said front skirt; D. re-inforced end support walls (50 and 59) connected to panel (25) by hinge panels (45 and 46) overlying end spacers (52 and 61) adjacent the rear and front respectively, of said end panel (25) and spaced from said upper edge wall to provide supports for suspending a tub (15); E. said end spacers (52 and 61) being hinged at lateral edges of said support walls (50 and 59) and folded between said end panel (25) and said support walls; F. said right end cap being a mirror image of said left end cap. 